This Day in History: 2022-11-08

Nr. 339

BOBBY CHARLTON MAKES ENGLAND DEBUT (1958)

Bobby Charlton scored the first of his record haul of 49 goals on his international debut in a 4-0 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park in April 1958. Only two months after surviving the Munich disaster Charlton opened his account for England with the final goal of the game when, from a Tom Finney cross, he struck a powerful volley past Scottish goalkeeper Tommy Younger on 85 minutes. So impressed by the goal he had just conceded, Younger ran out of his penalty area to congratulate Charlton. «Well done, son, that was a fantastic goal,» he told him. Charlton would score another 48 over the next 12 years.

Charlton was 21 when he made his international bow. He eventually reached 106 caps, averaging almost a goal every other game.